The park is located on the mainland near the Akinada Bridge. In this park is a sign describing the bridge, a display of the 42 cm diameter main cable—the lifeline of the suspension bridge—as well as a monument of the Tanaka Award it received from the Civil Engineering Society. The islands appear to weave together in a breathtaking panoramic view.

This glistening light blue shape in Akinada’s landscape is the largest prefectural highway suspension bridge in Japan.

The Akinada Bridge connects Honshu to the Shimokamagarijima island; and serves as the gateway from Honshu to the Akinada Tobishima Kaido. The light blue of the main towers and cables and the jade green of the Inland Sea merge into the beautiful scenery of the archipelago. When gazing upon it, one cannot help but notice the overwhelming magnificence of the main tower.This lengthy bridge was built through Japan’s collective bridge-building expertise. Servicing two lanes of highway traffic, it is a world-class suspension bridge.

Main CharacteristicsDesign: Suspension bridge (a bridge supported by the hanging digits in the main cable and hanging rope)Length: 1,175m(Longest span: 750m)Main tower height: About 75m above the road’s surfaceClearance below: About 40m to the water’s surface

Exterior Features・Asymmetrical form (the span on the Honshu side was made 255m, while the span on the Shimokamagari side was made 170m in order to avoid construction in fishing zones)・Its' weight is anchored by cables joined to the outer wall of the anchorage-which has a multi-stage bevel texture to reduce ship radar interference and the structure’s impact on the scenery.・It has a light blue, slender form with two traffic lanes.・If you look from "the Dog’s Nose" on Honshu you will see the "Cat Island," (after the island’s shape), where one of the main towers was constructed to avoid what would become fishing zones.

Engineering & Construction・Each of the main tower’s welding points has been jointed.(The method was first used in Japan)・A "swing system" was used in the construction of the beam girders using ropes hanging from the bridge.(The method was also first used in Japan)

This park is located on Shimokamagarijima Island near the Akinada Bridge. Visitors are welcomed by a striking monument describing the Nekonoseto Strait. The park is equipped with a rest area, restrooms, and the Tsutsujien [Azalea Garden (approximate 40 species)], allowing visitors to explore the park.

If you cross the Akinada Bridge along the northern coast of Shimokamagarijima Island using the Tenjinbana Tunnel, you will eventually arrive at a prefectural road made of lain stone. Shimokamagarijima Island developed as a maritime hub, and the Sannose Port area, in particular, showcases Japanese architecture and pine trees befitting its garden-island concept—and its past prosperity during the time when the area was frequented by foreign vessels and feudal lords.

The Sannose Gohonjin was used for lodging by diplomats, feudal lords, and shogunate officials during the Edo era, and some nobility more recently. The Sannose Gohonjin Cultural Art Museum is a recreation of the Sannose Gohonjin on the original site.

Hakusetsuro is a two-story building that was used by those devoted to Chinese studies during the last years of the Edo era and has been visited by numerous scholars. Later, Hakusetsuro was relocated to Takehara and renamed Ryushunkyo during the Meiji era by Toshinao, a 9th generation descendant of the Rai clan. It was then donated to the Shimokamagari township by the head family of the Rai clan in Takehara (Shunpukan). The building has a unique rotating wall, known as dondengaeshi, in the tea room.

A beautiful art museum, representative of Japanese architecture and built using a great deal of Japanese cypress and well suited for the historic site of the prefecture where a guard station formerly stood; its name is derived from the noble orchids commonly found in Shimokamagari. Artwork by famous Japanese artists ranging from painting of the beautiful strait to work from artists, such as Taikan Yokoyama, Heihachiro Fukuda, and Kunitaro Suda, are stored and displayed here. Additionally, concerts are held at its gallery every third Saturday at 6:30 pm and world-famous and up-and-coming artists are invited to perform.

Situated at a slightly higher elevation than the main building, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of the port town stretching along the Sannose Strait, the sea, and the garden. The artwork of the renowned Japanese painter, Manjiro Terauchi, who was associated with the area, is on permanent display here as well.

Shotoen is a calm and pleasant garden with rich greenery of pine trees, with the currents of the Sannose Strait in the background adding to the beauty. The garden represents the history and culture of Shimokamagarijima Island. There are traditional dwellings which, either relocated to the garden or reconstructed there, such as the ceramic museum center, Gochiso Ichibankan, and the Akari noYakata with western lamps on display. The Kamagari Island Guard Station was also rebuilt in the garden. As key points of interchange, these buildings tell the former prosperity of the island.

Located in the southern part of Shimokamagarijima Island, this beautiful arch shaped white sand beach is 200 meters long with an illuminating contrast from nature’s dark greens and the blue ocean. Kajigahama Beach is equipped with restrooms and showers facilities, and is great for camping, making it a great place for family fun in the summer.

We recommend a visit to this spot in Akinadan. From the Ohirayama Park at the mountain summit, a place famous for its cherry blossoms, you can get an entire view of the Kamagari Bridge, and see the Akinada Bridge.

The first extension bridge built on the Akinada Tobishima Kaido is the largest truss bridge in the prefecture.

The Kamagari Bridge, the first bridge built on the Akinada Tobishima Kaido. The Kamagari Bridge connecting the islands of Shimokamagari and Kamikamagari, overlooks the townscape of the Sannose Strait; which since long ago has flourished as a key point of maritime transportation. Along with Akinada Bridge, the Kamagari Bridge creates a lovely bridge-scenery. It was constructed using the most advanced methods available at the time in order to withstand intense tidal currents.

Exterior Features・Seventh largest truss bridge in the country and the largest in Hiroshima Prefecture

Engineering & Construction・Due to the fast tidal currents, the foundation of each pier was constructed and installed using caissons.・The first bridge in the country built using three-sections of truss through a large segment construction method.

Located on Kamikamagarijima Island near the Kamagari Bridge on a hill looking over the Inland Sea. It offers souvenirs, food, a rest area, and an information desk. On sunny days, you can enjoy a view of the islands, sea, and Shikoku (in the distance) from the Deaino Cape.

The water from Katsura Waterfall is said to have spiritual properties and is recognized as special water from ancient times. The Katsura Valley, where the source is, remains an old forest in which you can find a number of Japanese cedar trees with a root circumference of close to 1 m, and it consistently maintains a humid environment. As a result of preservation efforts by local residents, its condition, water quality, quantity, history, and rarity, it was officially recognized on June, 2008 as one of the 100 famous bodies of water of the Heisei era.

The striking contrast of the rugged, craggy mountain side and the Koigahama (Beach), the Kurobana peninsula, Itsukishima Island, and the islets and Itsukushima island in the waters beyond the Kenminnohama (Beach) can be seen from the viewing platform in front of the statue of Kannon. You can even see as far as Shikoku in the distance. A unobstructed, breathtaking view of the sea from the gazebo, located at the end of the "Nishidomari Romance Road", awaits.

One of the most prominent natural environments in the Seto Inland Sea area, the "Kenmin no Hama (the Hiroshima Prefectural Beach)" is graced with beautiful sandy beaches and good quality water, and was chosen as one of the 100 best bathing resorts—as a part of Japan’s 100 Great Beaches selections. You can enjoy seaside bathing and an assortment of marine sports, such as sea kayaking here. In addition to sports facilities such as tennis courts, this area is also home to numerous wellness and recreation establishments including the "Kamagari Astronomical Observatory" and the "Moshio(Algae Salt) Factory" which offer participatory experiences for visitors, the hot springs resort "Yasuragi no Yakata," and accommodations provided by "Kagayaki no Yakata" and "Cottage Kamagari." This seaside resort is a large scale hub offering a range of entertainment and enjoyment choices for families and groups, from adults to small children.

They have one of the largest Maksutov telescopes in Japan that offers an excursion into the world of stars without being disrupted by the town lights. Visitors can enjoy a tour of the cosmic mystery and romance of the moon, planets, nebulae, and star clusters.

At the Restored Kamagari Ancient Salt Production Site Exhibit Center is where visitors can see the remains of ancient earthenware artifacts in the condition they were uncovered in. The stone oven is believed to have been laid with flat stones that have rounded corners, and some of the stones still remain in place with reddish burn marks and traces of the surfaces peeled off. They have also uncovered Sue ware and Haji ware from the 5th century in the area.

On the hill on the east side of Kenmin no Hama, visitors can enjoy a full view of Iyonada and the Shikoku mountain range with the shade of Kurahashi to the west. The view of the sunset is incredible from this location. Megumi no Oka Orchard offers strawberry and tangerine picking while the Herb Shop offers arts and crafts, dying, and pottery. Visitors can also enjoy local dishes at the restaurant.

Beloved by locals, twenty-first century’s long and tall suspension bridge represents a wealth of bridge-building technology.

In 2008, the Toyoshima Bridge was completed, linking the Akinada and Tobishima Kaido between Honshu and the Okamurajima Island.

The gentle scenery of the Seto Inland Sea dotted with small islets is spread between Kamikamagarijima Island and Toyoshima Island.
Not only do the steles at the bridge bear the bridge’s name, but also the writing of local middle school children. The bridge was nicknamed "Abi Bridge", after the prefectural bird, which flies over the body of water spanned by the bridge. It is the country’s only twenty-first century maritime suspension bridge. It is the amalgamation of new methods and technology that were freely employed during its construction, which led to advanced suspension bridge-building technology.
Because they look like railroad crossing gates, the traffic barricades attract many a curious glance; but they help block passage during severe weather events.

Main CharacteristicsDesign: Suspension bridge (a bridge supported by the hanging digits in the main cable and hanging rope)Length: 903m (Longest span: 540m)Main tower height: About 55m above the road’s surfaceClearance below: About 50m to the water’s surface

Exterior Features・Mint green color・Similar to the Akinada Bridge in appearance, but has forked spires on the main towers and a square shape

Engineering & Construction・(Bed) Rock anchors attached to cables (first in the country)・Exterior segment joints are fully welded (first in the country on a suspension bridge)・Main tower blocks built in sections (first in the country on a suspension bridge)・Used anair spring method to string the wire of the cables on-site (a world-first for a suspension bridge)・A dry air system to prevent corrosion (world-first on a suspension bridge)

It is located at the summit of Mt. Jumonji on Toyoshima Island. The dome-shaped observation platform has an arch design concept and looks exotic. You can see a 360-degree, panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea dotted with beautiful islands standing at the top of the 8m lookout. The lookout appeared in an animation that was set in Takehara and this area and offers a memorable scenery.

Located on the summit of Mt. Takao on Toyoshima Island. There is a Buddhist statue in the garden, and the observation platform is part of a bell tower. The bell tower has the "Bell of Peace" with "peace" written in many different languages. The trail has trees of all seasons and is fun to explore.

Shinsui Park is located immediately next to the Toyoshima Port. In the center of the park is a rest area and you can see locals going hiking in good weather. On the coast side of the park, you can find sculptures of red-throated loons and sea beam, symbols of Toyohama. The view of the Inland Sea you get from this location will calm your soul, and you can enjoy a different view at night when the area is lit up. This wall surface was selected as one of the 87 Night Scenes of Hiroshima Prefecture.

The Toyoshima Strait flows between the islands of Osakishimojima and Toyoshima; with the landscape of the Mikado Island with a fishing harbor townscape in the north, and the Itsuki Island with the reef where abi birds come flying in. The Toyohama Bridge spans this strait and is the second largest truss bridge in Hiroshima Prefecture. The handrails of this bridge feature reliefs of abi (red-throated loons) soaring above the Inland Sea. When viewed from the Bridge Memorial Park, the bridge appears as a lovely form stretching out from the island.

Main CharacteristicsDesign: Truss bridge (bridge built by connecting the triangle-shaped member)Length: 543m(Longest span: 240m)Clearance below: About 23m to the water’s surface

Exterior Features・Similar to the Kamagari Bridge, it is relatively white in color, shining in the sea

Bridge Memorial Park was built to commemorate the opening of Toyohama Bridge, and the giant jungle gym in the park is a famous spot that has been featured on TV. The view of the Toyoshima Strait from the top of the jungle gym is quite refreshing.

A beach in the Ohama Park in Osakishimojima Island. It is equipped with showers and changing rooms. Many families visit this location during summer vacation. The sea in Toyohama is beautiful and turns emerald green from the sunlight.

Red-throated loons, the prefectural bird of Hiroshima. A traditional fishing method using red-throated loons has been practiced in this region for 300 years. The Abi fly from Siberia to the sea in this area in the winter and you can watch them in the seas near Itsuki Island, south of Toyoshima Island.

This is part of the Yutaka Uminoeki, which was designated as the first uminoeki in Japan; the shops offers a variety of local souvenirs, as well as courses full of seafood that you can take your time eating and enjoying. There is also lodging and a pier for visitor boats, so you can rent a yacht and go sailing.

Mitarai is a major port of the Seto Inland Sea and its port town prospered during the Edo era with ships waiting for favorable winds and tides. Now you can see the traces of its prosperity and the liveliness of those days. Mitarai was registered by the national government as an important preservation district for historic buildings in 1994. The town is comprised of alleyways, large and small, with a collection of buildings that include shops, houses, lodging, and shrines as well as stone walls, covered alleys, and takatoro structures that have been preserved in their original conditions that seem to offer a welcome in a way that is reminiscent of the old times. The scenery is now a valuable image of a port town in the Inland Sea area and has been featured in countless films, TV shows, and anime.

The "Chisagohato" is a seawall was constructed by the Geishu domain (which included most of today’s Hiroshima Prefecture) using the most advanced technology available at the time, was vital for the Mitarai harbor, and was praised for its peerless stature in the Chugoku region. The "Takatoro (lantern towers)" placed at the ends of the seawall served as lighthouses, and rise to a height of 6.18 meters; standing as modern day testament of the prosperity of those times.

The village shrine to Chisagohato was built in 1830 (Bunsei period year 13) by a wealthy Osaka merchant, and constructed in the unique "Sumiyoshi-zukuri" architectural style, of which only few examples can be found nationwide. Courtesans from teahouses, such as the Wakaebisuya in Mitarai, would perform the Sunamochi folk song within the grounds of this reclaimed land. During ceremonies installing deities in the shrine, a procession of courtesans would perform dances such as the dance for the Palace of the Dragon King, bringing a festive air to the construction work being performed on the Sumiyoshi Shrine. A glance at the large number of the professional names of said hostesses and geisha etched into the tamagaki (the decorative fence that surrounds the Shinto shrine) indicates the importance of their contributions.

The "Manshu-ji Temple" traces its origins to a moment during Taira no Kiyomori’s (a government official) pilgrimage to the capital (Kyoto in that time), when he took shelter in this area during a heavy storm. After praying fervently, it is said that the skies parted to provide clear weather, and he constructed a thatched hut on the spot in gratitude, which then became a temple when an Ekādaśamukha (Eleven-Headed Kannon) was installed by the Buddhist monk Gyoki. The stone wall here was said to have been constructed by Katō Kiyomasa at the time of Hideyoshi Hashiba’s invasion of Shikoku, and is a very rare example of distinct stone masonry that was characteristic of the Akinadashoto island territories during the Sengoku period. The burial mounds and the very uncommon turtle-shaped gravestones, built for local haiku poets are some of the many worthwhile sights.

The "Daito-ji Temple" is comprised of a two temples: "Toko-ji Temple", the main temple was constructed during the Edo period; and "Ryuho-ji Temple", which used a portion of the Wakaebisuya building to create its main hall during the Meiji period. The main temple hall holds artwork said to have been created by a sculptor from Kyoto, which includes a half-bird heavenly maiden said to reside in the Buddhist paradise, and a transom decorated with a dragon carving.

Established during the Meiji period and said to be the oldest clock shop in the world, this little store continues to receive a stream of orders to repair cherished timepieces and watches from all over Japan and overseas. Through the glass window of this nostalgic shop, one can get a glimpse of the skills honed for breathing renewed life into a variety of clocks and watches. Inside the shop stands an American-made grandfather clock, towering at a height of 2 meters, which continues to tick off the passage of time as it has since the time the store was founded.

The "Kyu-Shibaya Jyutaku (the former Shibaya Residence)" was a house built during the Edo period where Tadataka Ino lived while he surveyed the Seto Inland Sea. A portion of the grand construction of this building is depicted in the "Tadataka Ino Mitarai Survey Plan," of which only two remain. The house also served as a place of rest for Hiroshima feudal lords on their visits to the island. After the end of the Edo period, it successively served as a rice wholesale store, a seller of ship fittings, and a hardware store until the 1970s.

The "Otome-za (Virgo) Theater" was built in 1937 at a time when there were no theaters in Mitarai. The then modern theater building attracted much attention, due to the fashionable, contemporary architectural style it was bulit in. After the war, until the late 1950s-early 1960s it was remolded into a much loved movie theater, and after being put through a variety of other uses, was eventually restored to its past glory. The tatami mat seating area inside is open to the public, and the theater is still used as a venue for events. It has also served as a stage for movies and TV dramas.

The entrance to the park is past Mitarai to the south. From the lookout, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Kurushima Channel to Shikoku across the town, the arched bridge, and beautiful islands. If you explore the trail along the tangerine orchards, you will eventually arrive back in Mitarai.

Heira Bridge is the smallest bridge on the Akinada Tobishima Kaido and connects the islands of Osakishimojima and Hera. While it is short, it is a unique concrete bridge along the Sea Way, close to the water’s surface. It was the first cable-stayed bridge built in Japan. Extending from Heira Island, this cable-stayed bridge lends some variety to the bridge scenery.

Main CharacteristicsDesign: Cable-stayed bridge (bridge supported by the hanging digits in the main cable and hanging rope)Length: 98.5m (Longest span: about 98m)Main tower height: About 40m above the road’s surfaceClearance below: About 5m to the water’s surface

Exterior Features・When seen from the Bridge Park, it appears as if it could be raised. But because it only spans the routes of small ships, it does not need to.

Engineering & Construction・Pre-cast segment construction method (first in the country on a cable-stayed bridge)

The Nakanoseto Bridge is the newest of the three bridges spanning the islands of Osakishimojima and Okamurajima. The completion of this bridge and the ferries in transit between it connected it to the Kankitsu Route. In a style identical to that of the Okamura Bridge, which was completed first, it has form with two arches running along it. As it is a beautiful sight among the many islands in the strait, it is often featured in animated films, etc.

Main CharacteristicsDesign: Nielsen-Lohse bridge (a type of bridge whose main support structure is an arch)Length: 251ｍ（Longest span: about 193ｍ）Clearance below: About 22m to the water’s surface

Exterior FeaturesIts’ features make it a twin to the Okamura Bridge, with an arch shape like that of an overturned bowl. It has two piers, one on each bank.

The Okamura Bridge is Japan’s only agricultural bridge that crosses prefectural borders over the sea. For this reason, there is a line marking prefectural boundaries on the bridge. Osakishimojima Island starts in the city of Kure, Hiroshima, while Okamurajima Island side is in the city of Imabari, in Ehime Prefecture. Its shape and color scheme was carefully considered because it is inside the bounds of the Inland Sea National Park. It can also be viewed as a copy of the Nakanoseto Bridge. From the Bridge Park, one can see all the bridges from Osakishimojima Island to Okamurajima Island all at once.

Main CharacteristicsDesign: Nielsen-Lohse bridge (a type of bridge whose main support structure is an arch)Length: 228m(Longest span: about 183m)Clearance below: About 22m to the water’s surface

Exterior Features・Arch shape, like that of an overturned bowl, merging into the scenery of the islands.・Same light blue color as the Seto Bridge

Engineering & Construction・In order to avoid affecting sea routes, only Okamura Island side has piers, resulting in a total number of only one pier and two abutments.

This lookout offers a great view of the beautiful cape of Kannonzaki—featured in a folk song— and the town of Mitarai on Osakishimojima Island. The lights that come on after the sunset create a romantic mood.